The Press., 1887-04-07
fNew York Tribune. April 5th.l

Francis Gerry Fairfield, clergyman, journalist, author of work on spiritual ism, and veterinary surgeon, died early yesterday in the Southern boarding house at Forty-second-st. and Third-ave., from the effects of the opium habit. While he was on his death-bed, his wife Josephine, daughter of Judge Griswold, of the United States District Court, and sister-in-law Of Bret Harte, died from the same cause in the boarding house, No. 27 Stuyvesant street, and her body was sent to the morgne. He did not know of her death and their relatives were not aware of 1t ull- til her body had been sent to the Potter s Field for burial. Ex-Judge Samuel D. Fairfield, of No 3l6 Lexington-aye., T brother of the dead man, made arrange ments yesterday to remove Mir. Fairfield 8 body to his mothers home in Stafford Springs, Conn. Mir. Fairfield vas educated at 8 private school in Massachusetts, at the Gettys- burg University, and at Lutheran the- ological seminary. Before he was of age he was placed in charge of Lutheran church at Waterloo, N. Y. After a year or two of preaching he came to this city to assist N. P. Willis in the editorial man. apement of The Home Journal. Later he was a writer for The Daily News and a correspondent for The Herald. He was in Mexico at the time of Maximilian's execu- l ton, and wrote an account of it as an eye
 witness. After his return to New York he was space writer for several newspapers. | He also wrote poems and short stories foH magazines, investigated spiritualism, and studied medicine and scientific subjects. His learning was sad to be extensive, but he did not turn it to much account in the way of making money. Failing to acquire means as writer, he became veterinary surgeon only to give up his practice in disgust after 8 short. trial,
 Several years ago he became addicted to the use of morphine, and his wife, beau tiful and well-educated woman, fell into the same habit. They had DO children and they lived in boarding houses, avoid. 1 ing wealthy and influential friends. Re cently Mr. Fairfield wrote chiefly for The Sunday Mercury and The Albany Argus.
 His brother gave him money frequently, and tried in vain to induce him to quit the use of morphine. For more than 8 year MT. Fairfield and his wife boarded at No. 27 Stuyvesant.st. During March they paid nothing for their board All the money they could get was spent for nor. phine, and their landlady was put off with promises. On Monday, week ago, Mr. Fairfield told his brother that Mrs. Fair. field was sick at the house of 8 friend in Morrisania. ....-.. -.
 On Wednesday Fairfield went to his brothers law ofics in The Tribune build ing and asked for more money. He look ed so much like tramp that his brother brought him some new clothing. As he said he did not care to go where his wife was his brother took him to the Southern boarding house, believing that Mrs. Fair, field was in Morrisania. MT. Fairfield failed rapidly at the boarding house. Every day when his brother visited him he begged piteously for morphine. On Friday Mrs. Fairfield, who had been in g similar condition, died in Stuyvesant-st. A number of bottles which had contained morphine were found in her room, and il was at first supposed she had committed suicide. In the absence of her husband no one could tell if she had any relatives, and coroner had her body removed to the morgue. MT. Fairfield was visited by his brother on Sunday night, and he continued to ask for morphine. He Was ignorant oi his wife's death and did not speak of her. At a. m. yesterday he was found dead ir bed While his brother was arranging for the removal of his body to Connection he first learned that Mrs. Fairfield wat dead also. .. t..>... -.